Month guide · New Orleans · United States
New Orleans in September
What September is really like in New Orleans: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Krakers assumed (based on copyright claims). (Correct, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
September is a month many travellers avoid. Expect average highs of 31°C (88°F), lows of 22°C (72°F), about 10 rainy days and roughly 12.3 hours of daylight. Still hot and the peak of hurricane season; low prices, but keep plans flexible and watch forecasts.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 31°C (88°F) / 22°C (72°F)
- Rainy days
- About 10
- Daylight
- About 12.3 hours
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Lowest
Weather in September
September is the 4th-warmest month in New Orleans: days average 31°C (88°F) against a yearly average high of 26°C (79°F), and nights fall to about 22°C (72°F). Rain falls on roughly 10 of its 30 days. Compared with August (33°C (91°F)), September is cooler; by October highs drop to around 27°C (81°F).
- Sunrise (15 September)
- About 06:45
- Sunset (15 September)
- About 19:06
- Daylight
- About 12.3 hours
Autumn (September–November). Hurricane risk and heat linger in September, then October and November turn dry and pleasant, with Halloween parades and a busy convention season.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, September rates 2 for crowds (the peak is February at 5) and 1 for hotel prices (highest in February). That makes September one of the better-value months to book.
Events in September
- Southern Decadence, an LGBTQ+ festival (usually Labor Day weekend)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in September
With frequent rain, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Museum · French Quarter
The Cabildo
Pair it with the Presbytère on the other side of the cathedral, which has exhibitions on Mardi Gras and on Hurricane Katrina.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
Museum · Warehouse District
The National WWII Museum
Designated by Congress as America's official World War II museum, this campus of pavilions tells the story of the war through oral histories, personal artefacts, aircraft suspended in the Boeing Center and immersive galleries following the Road to Berlin and the Road to Tokyo.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
- Iconic
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Aquarium · Riverfront
Audubon Aquarium
Combine it with the riverfront walk and the Canal Street ferry to Algiers Point.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
Experience · Warehouse District
Mardi Gras World
In riverfront warehouses near the Convention Center, Mardi Gras World is where Kern Studios builds and stores giant floats for many Carnival krewes.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Art
What to pack
For highs near 31°C, lows near 22°C and 10 wet days: light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is September a good time to visit New Orleans?
A month many travellers avoid, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, February–April and October–November are better overall. Compare every month.
New Orleans in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is September a good time to visit New Orleans?
It is a month many travellers avoid. Still hot and the peak of hurricane season; low prices, but keep plans flexible and watch forecasts.
+How warm is New Orleans in September?
Average highs are around 31°C (88°F) and lows around 22°C (72°F).
+Does it rain a lot in New Orleans in September?
Expect rain on about 10 days of the month.